Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of pixels. The second substrate is arranged opposite to the first substrate with a gap. The liquid crystal layer is held between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixels are provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each pixel has a first pixel part including a switching element and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element, and a second pixel part including a switching element and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element. The first liquid crystal molecules lying on the first pixel part of each pixel are oriented independently of second liquid crystal molecules lying on the second pixel part of the pixel.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate located opposite the first substrate with a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer held between the first substrate and the second substrate, a polarizing plate located opposite the liquid crystal layer, and a polarizing reflection layer positioned opposite the polarizing plate across the liquid crystal layer and located opposite the liquid crystal layer to reflect linearly polarized light polarized in one direction parallel to a plane of the liquid crystal display panel.

Abstract: In an OCB mode liquid crystal display device, a first phase layer that causes a retardation in an in-plane azimuth direction is disposed between a first polarizing layer and a liquid crystal layer such that a slow axis of the first phase layer intersects at right angles with an absorption axis of the first polarizing layer, a second phase layer that causes a retardation in an in-plane azimuth direction is disposed between a second polarizing layer and the first phase layer such that a slow axis of the second phase layer intersects at right angles with an in-plane azimuth direction in which liquid crystal molecules are inclined, and a third phase layer, which has an optical axis in a normal direction of the liquid crystal display device and has, as a whole, a negative uniaxial function, is disposed between the second polarizing layer and the first phase layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate located opposite the first substrate with a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer held between the first substrate and the second substrate, a polarizing plate located opposite the liquid crystal layer, and a polarizing reflection layer positioned opposite the polarizing plate across the liquid crystal layer and located opposite the liquid crystal layer to reflect linearly polarized light polarized in one direction parallel to a plane of the liquid crystal display panel.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of pixels. The second substrate is arranged opposite to the first substrate with a gap. The liquid crystal layer is held between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixels are provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each pixel has a first pixel part including a switching element and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element, and a second pixel part including a switching element and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element. The first liquid crystal molecules lying on the first pixel part of each pixel are oriented independently of second liquid crystal molecules lying on the second pixel part of the pixel.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having a structure in which a liquid crystal layer LQ is held between a pair of electrode substrates AR, CT, a pair of polarizers PL which hold the liquid crystal panel therebetween, and a pair of optical retardation plates RT arranged between the liquid crystal panel and the pair of polarizers PL. Each optical retardation plate RT has a refractive anisotropy in which average refractive indices nx, ny, and nz in an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction, and a z-axis direction being perpendicular to each other satisfy nx>ny>nz in a state when the z-axis direction conforms to the normal direction. The x-axis direction of each optical retardation plate RT is almost parallel to the transmission axis of the polarizer PL adjacent to a corresponding optical retardation plates RT.

Abstract: A first phase plate and a third phase plate, which constitute a polarizer structure, cooperate to impart a phase difference of a ¼ wavelength to linearly polarized light that emerges from a first polarizer plate. A second phase plate and a fourth phase plate cooperate to impart a phase difference of a ¼ wavelength to linearly polarized light that emerges from a second polarizer plate. Slow axes in planes of the first phase plate and the second phase plate are substantially parallel. A crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the first phase plate and the third phase plate is 60°, a crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the second phase plate and the fourth phase plate is 60°, and a crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the third phase plate and fourth phase plate is 60°.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate having a pixel electrode formed of a conductor, a counter substrate having a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer held between the substrates and containing liquid crystal molecules set in a vertical alignment with respect to the substrates. The pixel electrode had a void space located in the conductor to provide minute domains between which different directors of the liquid crystal molecules are obtained when a potential difference is applied between the array and counter electrodes, and a bridge-wiring member interconnecting adjacent parts of the conductor in the void space, and the bride-wiring member is configured to make an electric field created in a part of the pixel area located on the bridge-wiring member weaker than that created in the minutes domains according to the potential difference.

Abstract: In an OCB mode liquid crystal display device, a first phase layer that causes a retardation in an in-plane azimuth direction is disposed between a first polarizing layer and a liquid crystal layer such that a slow axis of the first phase layer intersects at right angles with an absorption axis of the first polarizing layer, a second phase layer that causes a retardation in an in-plane azimuth direction is disposed between a second polarizing layer and the first phase layer such that a slow axis of the second phase layer intersects at right angles with an in-plane azimuth direction in which liquid crystal molecules are inclined, and a third phase layer, which has an optical axis in a normal direction of the liquid crystal display device and has, as a whole, a negative uniaxial function, is disposed between the second polarizing layer and the first phase layer.

Abstract: When a peak wavelength of light emerging from a light-emitting layer is ?p(k) (k=1, 2, . . . , m in an order from a smallest wavelength), the peak wavelength ?p(k) is less than a value ne(k)P(k) that is obtained by multiplying an extraordinary-ray refractive index ne(k) of a selective reflection layer that forms each selective reflection region by a helical pitch P(k), and is greater than a value no(k)P(k) that is obtained by multiplying an ordinary-ray refractive index no(k) by the helical pitch P(k). A relationship, ne(k?1)P(k?1)<no(k)P(k), is established between the selective reflection layers that form the selective reflection regions.

Abstract: A circular-polarization-based mode LCD includes, in the named order, a light source a circular polarizer structure including a first polarizer plate and a first phase plate, a variable retarder structure including a liquid crystal cell, and a circular analyzer structure including a second polarizer plate and a second phase plate. Each of the first phase plate and the second phase plate is a uniaxial ¼ wavelength plate. A third phase plate that has a refractive index anisotropy of nx>ny=nz is disposed between the first polarizer plate and the first phase plate such that a slow axis thereof is set to be substantially parallel to a transmission axis of the first polarizer plate. A fourth phase plate that has a refractive index anisotropy of nx=ny>nz is disposed between the liquid crystal cell and the first polarizer plate or the second phase plate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having a structure in which a liquid crystal layer LQ is held between a pair of electrode substrates AR, CT, a pair of polarizers PL which hold the liquid crystal panel therebetween, and a pair of optical retardation plates RT arranged between the liquid crystal panel and the pair of polarizers PL. Each optical retardation plate RT has a refractive anisotropy in which average refractive indices nx, ny, and nz in an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction, and a z-axis direction being perpendicular to each other satisfy nx>ny>nz in a state when the z-axis direction conforms to the normal direction. The x-axis direction of each optical retardation plate RT is almost parallel to the transmission axis of the polarizer PL adjacent to a corresponding optical retardation plates RT.

Abstract: A first phase plate and a third phase plate, which constitute a polarizer structure, cooperate to impart a phase difference of a ¼ wavelength to linearly polarized light that emerges from a first polarizer plate. A second phase plate and a fourth phase plate cooperate to impart a phase difference of a ¼ wavelength to linearly polarized light that emerges from a second polarizer plate. Slow axes in planes of the first phase plate and the second phase plate are substantially parallel. A crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the first phase plate and the third phase plate is 60°, a crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the second phase plate and the fourth phase plate is 60°, and a crossed-axes angle between slow axes in planes of the third phase plate and fourth phase plate is 60°.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate, a counter substrate, a liquid crystal layer held between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate and containing a liquid crystal composition, a linear polarizer attached to an outer surface of the TFT substrate, a circular polarizer attached to an outer surface of the counter substrate, a reflective electrode section which is located in an inner surface of the TFT substrate, a counter electrode section which is located in an inner surface of the counter substrate. The reflective electrode section includes a pair of electrodes to apply a lateral electric field to the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element comprises a polarization plates, phase difference plates, a liquid crystal layer, and selectively reflective layers for reflecting part or whole of circularly polarized light in a specific direction. The products of the respective thicknesses of the polarization plate, phase difference plate, liquid crystal layer, and selectively reflective layer and the difference between an average refractive index in a direction perpendicular to each display plane and an average refractive index in a direction parallel to the display plane are set so that the absolute value of their sum total is 50 nm or less. Each selectively reflective layer is formed of a layer having positive refractive index anisotropy and a layer having negative refractive index anisotropy.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate having a pixel electrode formed of a conductor, a counter substrate having a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer held between the substrates and containing liquid crystal molecules set in a vertical alignment with respect to the substrates. The pixel electrode had a void space located in the conductor to provide minute domains between which different directors of the liquid crystal molecules are obtained when a potential difference is applied between the array and counter electrodes, and a bridge-wiring member interconnecting adjacent parts of the conductor in the void space, and the bride-wiring member is configured to make an electric field created in a part of the pixel area located on the bridge-wiring member weaker than that created in the minutes domains according to the potential difference.

Abstract: A polarized light reflecting element includes a plurality of stacked cholesteric liquid crystal layers. Each cholesteric liquid crystal layer is polymerized and has a helical liquid crystal molecule array and a helical axis that extends substantially in the normal direction. The in-plane mean value &agr; of the respective helix angles of liquid crystal molecules is nearly n&pgr; (n=1, 2, 3, . . . ). The cholesteric liquid crystal layers have their liquid crystal molecules continuously oriented on the interfaces between them, and form one smooth helical structure as a whole.

Abstract: A phase difference plate and a liquid-crystal layer are provided between a polarizing plate and a selective reflection layer formed of cholesteric liquid crystal. A first color filter layer is provided on the polarizing plate side of the selective reflection layer. On the back side of the selective reflection layer, a second color filter layer is arranged. On the back side of the second color filter layer, a backlight is provided. When a liquid-crystal display device functions as a reflective liquid-crystal display device, light entering through the polarizing plate is reflected totally by the selective reflection layer and passes through the first color filter layer twice. When the liquid-crystal display device functions as a transmission liquid-crystal display device, light from the backlight passes through the selective reflection layer. Then, the light passes through the second and first color filter layers once and is outputted.

Abstract: A phase difference plate for delaying the phase of incident light by &lgr;/4 and a liquid crystal layer for shifting the incident light by &lgr;/2 in accordance with an applied voltage are interposed between a polarization plate and a selective reflecting layer made of a cholesteric liquid crystal. A color filter layer is formed on the polarization-plate-side of the selective reflecting layer. A back-surface light source for emitting light having intensity peaks in a plurality of predetermined wavelengths is located on the back-surface of the selective reflecting layer. The selective reflecting layer is formed to transmit almost all light components in the plurality of small regions including the plurality of predetermined wavelengths and reflect almost all light components in regions between the plurality of small regions.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display element includes a polarization plate, a liquid crystal layer provided in the rear of the polarization plate, for modulating incident light in correspondence with an applied voltage, a selectively reflective layer provided behind the liquid crystal layer, for reflecting a first circular polarization component of incident light, and a back light source arranged in the rear of the selectively reflective layer, for emitting light having intensity peaks for a plurality of predetermined wavelengths. The selectively reflective layer has first reflection factors to the first polarization components of incident light falling within first small regions of visible light, including the plurality of predetermined wavelengths, and has second reflection factors to the first polarization components of incident light falling within second small regions of visible light, not including the plurality of predetermined wavelengths.